The Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association will continue to receive a two per cent tax collected from hotels and motels in District 69 for another five years — but with the condition of submitting an affordable housing plan in 2020.
The association has been the designated recipient of Municipal Regional District Tax revenues derived from accommodation providers in the City of Parksville, the Town of Qualicum Beach and Electoral Areas E, F, G and H. The PQBTA apply the revenues toward destination marketing activities.
The agreement is renewable every five years. The PQBTA had until the end of this month for the latest renewal.
The process was stalled briefly due to a new legislation that will require taxes to also be collected from online accommodation platforms such as Airbnb and from accommodation providers with less than four rooms. The additional revenues are for use by local governments on affordable housing projects.
The PQBTA is mandated by the province to provide an annual report. In its renewal application it is required to include in a one-year tactical plan and also an affordable housing MRDT plan for 2019, which PQBTA president Arthur Wong said they could not comply with this year.
To be able to come up with the affordable housing plan, the PQBTA needs to collaborate with the City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and accommodation providers on Electoral Areas E, F, G and H.
“Once a realistic revenue projection can be made, an affordable housing plan may be considered as part of the required consultation for the next MRDT renewal cycle,” said Wong.
The board supported the PQBTA’S renewal of the two per cent MRDT but requires the association to submit by 2020 the provincially required One Year Tactical Plan that includes a provision to use Municipal Regional District Tax revenues from Online Accommodation Platforms for affordable housing.
As well, the PQBTA will be required to work in 2019 with the RDN, the City of Parksville and the Town of Qualicum Beach and accommodation providers to develop an Affordable Housing Municipal Regional District Tax Plan.
